Most lists of top classic cars probably include the “Tri-Five” Chevrolets from 1955 to 1957. Besides being winners from a styling point of view, they heralded Chevy’s first V8 engine since 1918. The Bel Air was the top series and the 2-door Sport Coupe like the seller’s edition saw 190,000 copies assembled in ’55 alone. This Chevy belonged to the seller’s father who was its second owner, and the car has been in isolation for six decades. Needing a restoration, this Bowtie is available here on Facebook Marketplace and in Twin Falls, Idaho for $55,000 (no, I didn’t slip up and in too many zeros).
Some Chevrolet plants were likely working overtime as nearly five million 150s, 210s, and Bel Airs rolled down the line in ’55-57. Many of the ultimate buyers probably ordered the new 265 cubic inch V8 engine which was often paired with a 2-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. That’s how this Bel Air was put together, so it may have been close to “top-of-the-line” in its day. The first owner of this Chevrolet only kept it for three or four years before passing it along to the seller’s father who drove it into the mid-1960s.
For reasons unclosed, this Bel Air was parked at 75,000 miles around 1965. And it’s been idle ever since with no mention of any attempts to get it back on the road. The way the seller’s listing and pricing are worded, you’d think this is a restored or highly functional original. But it’s not and a restoration is going to be in this car’s future. When the vehicle was built, it was painted yellow, but the seller’s father had it repainted in some shade of green.
We’re told the interior is nearly perfect, but we question the choice of green paint when the seating appears to be done up in turquoise or blue. Fortunately, the car’s isolation has kept the body solid and rust-free. With restorations costing what they do these days, this could be a very expensive project at the seller’s asking price. The recently exploding resale values of vintage cars have prompted the seller to shoot for the moon.
Ree diculous price.
Reminds me of the Simpsons episode when Krusty uses his daugher Sophie’s Violin in a poker game. The following statement applies here:
“The sentimental value is through the roof!”
Sounds like one of “Howards stories” a brewin’,,I’ll be brief, but what do you think the story was here? Obviously, this car was known about all those years, yet the old man held fast. I bet the dad became unable to drive, and refused to have one of the most popular cars to hot rod, turned into that. The family knew it, so let’s say he was 30 in 1965( 23 when he got the car in 1958) when something happened, and could have easily made it to his 90s. That’s when the kid, who saw dollar signs all along, went into action. We all know the kid is a bit optimistic, and appears to have done nothing to the car, newsflash, junior, it’s not that easy.
Howard, Junior thinks he has a fool-proof “get-rich-quick’ scheme, and is going to find a chump for $55 large. The rest of us with common sense know better. He’s just dumb enough to ‘come down to’ maybe $50K or so, but he’ll only get laughed at. Not willing to settle for a realistic figure, the for sale ad will be terminated and that will be that. Seen it before; “If I can’t get my figure for it, I’ll just sit on it awhile longer!” Unfortunately Howard, they’re born every day.
The ad reads like a dealer wrote it?? But the ad talks about “my dad”, surely Junior isn’t a dealer, unless he is one of those who doesn’t really want (need) to sell something, so he asks x times its market value? Howard, in your saga, how old is Junior today?
Hi Bob, well, if the old man was 90ish, the “kid” has to be in their 60s, unless, dad, wink-wink, you know, in that case, could be a lot younger. A more realistic and much sadder scenario, is dad probably left behind a mountain of health bills( been there) and as mentioned, many times sellers prices of unfamiliar items can be greatly distorted, as I suspect I this case. I’m sure it plays out daily across this land.
In 1965 this was a ten year old used car, also cars at that time usually didn’t even last much beyond that. It was a pretty much valueless car if it didn’t run. Must have had a farm or something with available shed space. I’m quite surprised this wasn’t sold in the 70s, Tri-Five cars by then were making a comeback. Why didn’t dear old dad sell at some point? Love for the car? I doubt that, he would have fixed her up. Gonna fix her someday syndrome? Maybe. My bet is just plain stubbornness.
At that price and those lazy photos, all I can say is, “good luck Buddy”
I agree. For that price more detailed pictures are needed!!
While I like the 55 Chevys,( the first car I ever bought myself was a 55 Belair like this). This is a pie in the sky asking price. There was one for sale near me a couple months ago for $45k and you could literally eat off every surface. It had a small block 400 with a 350 turbo hydromatic. Power steering and vintage air. I agree it’s only original once and that has some value, this price is astronomical.
Car being rust free and nice interior could probably pull 20’s. I don’t see were it’s special to ask anymore
60 years ago the owner dropped the car off at Earl Scheibs, asking to have
it painted a light turquoise to match the interior. This was the result. He took
it home and parked it in the garage, never to to be seen on the street again…
I’ve got 55 k to spend on car(s)
Nice 57 Chevy on C’list for 21.5
05 Pontiac GTO, low miles 18.5
40 grand spent, and my Hagerty insurance and cost of ownership is paid for probably the next
8-10 years…
This is sad. I assume it doesn’t run to get it outside and wash it or there is a water shortage there?🤨
Good luck airing up the dry rotted tires getting it out in daylight. I’m sure many generations of mice have been through it also.
The car is unrealistically overpriced. So far the most of the comments have taken the most negative interpretation possible. Another possible and I think a more realistic take is the seller knows nothing about cars and their value. They’ve done some research online, which typically shows prime examples with expensive price tags. All the seller knows is their father “loved” it and has low mileage, they don’t have any idea how condition effects price, nor how to determine condition. If they reached out for help figuring value, what are the odds the actually spoke to anyone that knows value. They might have found an expert that watched a few 55’s sell at Mecum or Barrett-Jackson for six figures so theirs must be worth $55k.
For anyone that’s ever knock on a door or was put in contact with a family member clearing an estate knows, most initial prices quoted are not anchored in reality. Eventually most sellers will find someone that can actually walk them through the process of figuring out a more reasonable value or time teaches them that lesson.
Steve R
It says it was off the the road since 1965. It was only 11 years old. Anybody identify those aftermarket gauges? It’s seems odd they would be there but not impossible. They sure look more 80’s to me but I wasn’t around in the early to mid sixties.
The gauges look like Stewart-Warner, many designs are little changed since the late-40’s or early-50’s. Many of the changes were subtle such as change in font, curved glass or shape if the needle. Guys building period correct cars, especially hot rods are well versed on the difference. Searching sold eBay listings demonstrates the value for very early gauges.
Steve R
This car has 75,000 miles on it and hasn’t been started in almost 60 years. The threads holding the seat covers and sun visors are starting to fray, the engine compartment isn’t clean (Even if the engine would turn over, or actually run) so this car isn’t close to being a survivor.
It may be solid and a candidate for a complete restoration, but unless the buyer is a mechanic/painter/interior finisher, who values their time at $5/hour
the price is many times what it should be.
I think the seller accidentally put in the extra zero. Tri-fives are dropping in price, but even at their best, this is a 10K car. The market will sort it out.
55.5K will buy a top shelf tri-five these days.
$55,000 would be a stretch after a complete restoration, including a color correction to better suit the interior, or a complete new interior to better suit the green. I think Steve R is correct. The seller has no idea what it’s worth and has priced it based on what a few perfect examples have sold for at auction.
Look on the bright side: It’s not going anywhere soon. Plenty of time to get in touch and arrange an inspection with $10,000 in your pocket.
First thing you do is send a group of your buddies one at a time to insult him/her with really lowball junkyard prices. Then you come along with the highest offer.
By the look of the spare tire in the trunk, the car has some front end issues.
tire looks like 70k miles but never aligned nor kingpins rebuilt.
From reading the comments this car must be seriously overpriced. All it takes is one sucker with a fat wallet.
Great find, but who’s going to buy it in “Metallic Pea”? Clark Griswald?
You’d be surprised, in funky Colorado, I saw’r a new Subie this color.
I’ve got a beautiful 55 Chevy 2 dr. 73k org. miles. 265 v8 with a 3 speed manual column shifter. All numbers matching. $25k in storage 40 years and properly prepared. Text 847 650 5624 car in Chicago.
Slip and Slide with PowerGlide
When a car has had a color change I always look at the pictures to see how careful the painter was at covering the areas that shouldn’t be painted. Overspray can detract from the look of the car and lets you know how much prep was put into the paint job. In the case of this car it seems from looking at the pics the painter was more careful with the trunk lid than with the under hood area. I would like the car more if it were still the original yellow color and it would be worth more but that’s just my opinion so doesn’t matter. I think this seller will find out that sentimental value doesn’t equal dollar value but I wish him good luck with the sale.
Well the only way to get the party started is to message the seller and see what happens
Russ, are you SURE you didn’t add one too many zeros in the price?!! 😂
Russ didn’t, the seller did.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Can sit right there for another 60 years & won’t bring that kinda $$$. I suggest the seller educates themselves about how this whole scenario or market, if you prefer, works. I’m still laughing.
Nice ride but priced too high!
Nobody mentioned the odometer, it shows 20962 miles. I guess it stopped working or we have 120962 miles ??
When I clicked on the Marketplace link it took me to a shot of that ‘beautiful’ original spare in the trunk, half tread worn, that obviously spent a lot of time on the road. And then there were the pics of other tri-fives for sale…2 of them really nice looking 55’s for $27K…
I read all the comments here first, then decided to go look at the pictures on Marketplace.
$55,000 for a car with rust on the front bumper under the license holder? Blue paint peeling from the inside of the trunk emblem plastic insert?
And all that dirt?
Wow!
$55K for a Chevy that needs complete restoration? Get real! $2500 big bucks for this 55’! I imagine someone told the owner what fully restored 55s are selling for & he decided I will ask $55K! GMAB!!! Or hothead owner does not really want to sell the car.
priced like his wife wants to sell it.
This poor old fellow is off his meds.way to many 000000. Mebee he needs to talk to someone who knows cars.
I’m assuming he had a friend tell him his 55 is worth a thousand and all he heard was 55thousand.
I know 55’s. This is a 10 thousand dollar car, 15 on its very best day. Practically no pictures of interior. I wonder why they could not have raised the trunk mat up for a picture under it?
I was utterly stunned when the 1955 Chevrolet first came out — what a revolution from 1954! I can say that the dashboard looks pretty good here, as does the inside of the driver’s door. But, as others have said, the seller is DREAMING on the PRICE! I could see $5,500, not $55,000. What you have here is a solid and complete vehicle, where every last thing needs to be taken apart, cleaned, restored, and detailed. You’ll pay the entire value of the finished car in properly restoring it! And no doubt also discover why it was parked where it is and left idle in the first place. GOOD LUCK!
Ok a couple of things, first, the seller obviously doesn’t know the market. This is a pretty basic ’55 Chevy. No Power steering, breaks, seat, windows. no A/C. It’s a neat story but…..Second, the outside color does not match the inside Regal Turquoise dash. I’d say “Had Two” is correct. Dad got an Earl Scheib paint job on her and realized you really do get what you pay for, was broken hearted at throwing his money away making his pride and joy look worse. Drove the old Chevy in the garage closed the door and forgot about it. I’ve seen this scenario play out more than once. Thirdly, I have seen cars that have been in a garage for decades break in two when being pulled out because of the rust caused by condensation.
His dad used to take it out on the streets of Detroit at night and race it for money. The car was known as the “Night Ranger” and was never beaten. It was said he made $12000 dollars in one weekend racing it. Get this priceless beauty now before it goes on the auction block where it will bring millions!
To RH FACTOR: Your deft sense of humour is just what we need, here! GREAT JOB!